Adam emil schatz



(No Mudel.)

A. E. SCHATZ. ELECTRIC TOWING APPARATUS.

l ll'atented Dc. 1, 1896. rl

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III 'l I Elfi me cams Pzfznsoo.. wmoumn WASHINGTON D c bottom of the canal.

UNITED` ASTATE-1S PATENT *.Orricn.

ADAM EMIL SOHATZ, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC TOWING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 572,377, dated December 1, 1896.

Original application iiled January 19, 1893, Serial No.1`458,988.` Divided and this application filed June '7, 1893. Serial No. 476,836. (No model.)

ularly adapted to support the truck to en able the latter to exert a strong pull upon another vehicle, such as a canal-boat; and my invention preferably involves the employment of an electric locomotive having a spur gear wheel or wheels engaging a rack provided on the rail, the latter being 'fixed along the bank of a canal.

The method or means heretofore most commonly employed for the propulsion of canalboats-viz., the use of animal powerhas many well-known drawbacks; but there have been produced heretofore mechanical means, such as propellers or wheels operated from aboard the boat; but the great disadvantage in such systems is that the agitation of the water in the canal tends to wash away the bank and also disturb the sediment in the It has also been proposed to draw the canal-boat by means of locomotives running along the bank of the canal, and my invention has particular reference to improvements in such means.

AThis present application is a division of the application filed January 19, 1898, Serial No. 458,988, which application was patented January 2, 1894, No. 511,911. Said patent being for the particular construction of the rail to a side elevation of the motor and rail, trolleyarm and electric wire, and a portion of a boat. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the rail, illustrating a modification hereinafter referred to.

c is the motor-frame, and b the rail, the

latter being preferably secured to a beam b', secured along the bank of the canal. The rail b consists of a vertical portion b2, surmounted by a horizontal plate b3, having grooves in its upper surface and having its under surface at one side of the vertical portion provided with teeth to form a rack b4.

rlhe frame ct is provided with wheels a', running in the grooves of the plate b3, and supports an electric motor a5 of any preferred construction, said motor receiving the current from the Wire c through a trolley-arm c.

The sides of the frame c extend down below the plate b3 and form bearings for a pinion a?, mounted on a shaft d3 on one side of the rail, and in the other downwardly-extended portion of the frame c is mounted an antifriction or bearing wheel d4, running against the smooth under side of the plate b3.

rThe shaft a3 has a Wheel d secured to it, said wheel being connected by any suitable gearing or a belt CZ with a Wheel d2, driven by the electric motor. The frame ot is provided With one or more hooks e for the attachment of a rope e or other connection with the boat e2.

In Fig. 3 is shown a rack b5, located below the rack b4 and at sufficient distance therefrom to enable the pinion d2 to run in contact with only one of the racks. By any suitable means the said pinion a2 may be shifted vertically, so as to shift the direction of movement of the motor-frame.

It will be understood that my invention offers no obstruction whatever to the navigation of a canal by any methods heretofore in use, since the rail can be located a sufficient distance from the edge of the bank to permit animals to walk along said bank between the rail and the canal. Furthermore, since the said rail and wire are located at one side of the canal there is no overhead obstruction to the passage of any boats having elevated 1. The combination with a boat, of a carriage movable along a suitable support adja- IOO cent to a waterway, an electrical propellingmotor on said carriage, circuit connections,

- means for connecting the carriage and boat,

whereby the latter will be propelled by the former, and connections, including a switch7 between the motor and boat, whereby the motor-current may be controlled by a person on board the boat.

2. The combination with a fixed toothed rail located along the bank of a waterway, of an electric locomotive having a spur-gear meshing with said toothed rail, circuit connections, a boat, means for connecting the carriage of the locomotive with the boat whereby the latter will be propelled by the former, and connections, including a switch, between the locomotive and boat whereby the motor-current may be controlled by a person on board the boat.

3. In an electrical device for towing vehicles, the combination with a fixed rail, of a carriage sustaining an electric motor and geared to the rail, a coupling or drag-rope attached to the carriage, a switch lever for directing the electric current to the motor, and a pull-rope for actuating said switch-lever, substantially as set forth.

4.411,1 an electrical device for towing vehicles, the combination with a fixed rail, of a carriage sustaining an electric motor and geared to the same, a coupling or drag-rope attached t0 the carriage, an electric conductor parallel with the rail, a trolley-Wheel with spring-arm pivoted upon the carriage to make contact with such conductor, a switch with lever for leading the current from the trolley to the motor, and a pull-rope for actuating such lever7 substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the rail b having vertical'portion b2 and the horizontal plate b3 provided with a grooved upper surface and a rack b4 on its under side, of the motor and its frame or truck a having hooks c and the Wheels a fitted to the grooved upper surface of the rail and the pinion a2 meshing with the rack b4, and means for connecting the motor with a canal-boat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- ADAM EMIL SCIIATZ. Witnesses:

CORNELIUS J'; EARLEY, RICHARD Lrrs. 

